1. Foreignness - The immune system normally discriminates between self and non-self such that only foreign molecules are immunogenic.
2. Size - There is not absolute size above which a substance will be immunogenic. However, the larger the molecule the more immunogenic it is likely to be.
3. Chemical Composition - The more complex the substance is chemically the more immunogenic it will be. The antigenic determinants are created by the primary sequence of residues in the polymer and/or by the secondary, tertiary or quaternary structure of the molecule.
4. Physical form - Particulate antigens are more immunogenic than soluble ones and denatured antigens more immunogenic than the native form.
5. Degradability - Antigens that are easily phagocytosed are generally more immunogenic. This is because for most antigens (T-dependant antigens) the development of an immune response requires that the antigen be phagocytosed, processed and presented to helper T cells by an antigen.
question
tabulate the differences between immunogenic and non immunogenic for each of the factors described above
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